Individuals and communities benefit when more daily trips are made by walking, bicycling, sharing rides and riding the bus. Those benefits include:
- Greater mobility and access for all, including non-drivers
- More cost-effective public investments in transportation
- A stronger local economy
- Higher property values
- A more attractive community
- Safer streets and sidewalks
- Better air and water quality
- Healthier citizens
- Stronger social connections
Recognizing this, WCOG has created Whatcom Smart Trips, a program that helps community members make more of their trips by walking, bicycling, sharing rides or riding the bus. The program is administered and operated by WCOG with the support of the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the Whatcom Transportation Authority, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Whatcom Smart Trips is a collection of programs and tools that assist community members in using sustainable transportation modes. These include:
- An online trip diary that helps community members identify opportunities for making trips by walking, bicycling, sharing rides and riding the bus
- Smart Trips Incentives, which include discount cards, gift certificates, cash prizes and recognition to motivate community members to try new forms of transportation
- Emergency rides home using limited, free taxi service so bus riders and other Smart Trips participants who experience an emergency or become ill at work can get home
- Smart Trips employer partners to provide support to businesses and organizations that want to promote sustainable transportation to their employees
- Community outreach provides education, assistance and incentives by partnering with community groups that wish to promote walking, bicycling, sharing rides and riding the bus
- School Smart Trips program, which provides classroom activities for middle school students and bicycle skills courses for elementary school students
- An ongoing public awareness campaign that includes advertising and public presentations to make the community aware of the benefits of participation in the Smart Trips program
For more information about Whatcom Smart Trips, please visit the program website (www.WhatcomSmartTrips.org) or contact Susan Horst, Director of Mobility Programs , at susan@wcog.org or (360) 685-8386.